Postpartum Depression and Military Women

Military serving women and veterans are a vulnerable population that has a history with mental health issues. Military women who experience postpartum depression (PPD) must deal with outside factors such as family, deployment, and expectations from the military for their soldiers. This study focused determining what factors have impacted the severity of postpartum depression in military service women who have had children while in service. Data was drawn from 4 respondents that were obtained using a mixture of purposive and snowball sampling. The severity of the participant’s postpartum depression was obtained through the use of the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale, which showed that 2 out of the 4 respondents had probable depression while the other 2 had possible depression. The data showed five themes that were shared experiences for the women which were lack of mental health resources, high job pressure, physical stressors, race, and support systems. Findings indicated that these themes are some of the factors that affect the women’s severity of postpartum depression. Exploring the results led to understanding the importance of maternal mental health screenings, which is a more preventative approach to decreasing the symptoms and rates of postpartum depression

Post-harvest recovery of a co-managed First Nations’ gooseneck barnacle fishery

Small-scale fisheries are culturally significant and provide coastal communities with economic opportunities. On the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, five First Nations co-manage a small-scale commercial fishery for gooseneck barnacles (Pollicipes polymerus). To inform the sustainable expansion of this fishery, I conducted an experimental harvest to estimate post-harvest recovery of gooseneck barnacles, the biotic matrix (i.e., acorn and thatched barnacles and mussels), and bycatch of mussels. After 14 months, mean matrix recovery was 74% of its initial cover, while gooseneck barnacle biomass recovery was only 12%. Both were highly variable and none of the variables tested was able to predict recovery of the matrix or of gooseneck barnacles. These results suggest that other factors, such as space, larval supply, and a longer time period, might contribute to both matrix and gooseneck barnacle recovery. Bycatch of mussels, in terms of biomass, increased by 2% with each 1% increase in biomass of gooseneck barnacle harvested, and this effect increased with matrix depth. These findings can inform management, suggesting that if harvest effort increases, the 6-month rotational closure should be re-visited, and that bycatch can be addressed through simple management measures

Mechanisms of Invasion and Competition in Anolis sagrei and Anolis carolinensis lizards in southeastern Louisiana

Invasive species can have a variety of effects on the behavior and ecology of native species. Currently in New Orleans, Louisiana, both A. sagrei and A. carolinensis lizards are relatively abundant, but the A. sagrei population is expanding rapidly. I used a combination of laboratory and field studies to investigate factors that might be influencing local dominance of invasive A. sagrei over native A. carolinensis populations, including habitat use, display behavior, interspecific aggressive interactions, and plasticity. When comparing display behavior and habitat use in anole populations across three field sites in southern Louisiana, I found differences in male display behavior of both species, and also that A. carolinensis perched higher when A. sagrei was present. In staged interspecific interactions, I discovered that A. sagrei females achieved consistently higher aggressive scores than A. carolinensis females, suggesting that female interspecific behavior is probably more important than male behavior in driving changes in habitat use. Lastly, I studied plasticity in several morphological and whole-organism performance variables by rearing males and females of each species on two different perch diameters. I found that sprinting performance in A. sagrei was significantly different between treatment groups, although the morphological differences between perch treatments were subtler than those reported in previous studies. I also found that A. carolinensis females exhibited significant differences in both sprinting and clinging performance, despite no significant differences in male or female morphology between perch size treatments, highlighting the potential for both species-specific and sex-specific plasticity

Mechanisms of Invasion and Competition in Anolis sagrei and Anolis carolinensis lizards in southeastern Louisiana

Invasive species can have a variety of effects on the behavior and ecology of native species. Currently in New Orleans, Louisiana, both A. sagrei and A. carolinensis lizards are relatively abundant, but the A. sagrei population is expanding rapidly. I used a combination of laboratory and field studies to investigate factors that might be influencing local dominance of invasive A. sagrei over native A. carolinensis populations, including habitat use, display behavior, interspecific aggressive interactions, and plasticity. When comparing display behavior and habitat use in anole populations across three field sites in southern Louisiana, I found differences in male display behavior of both species, and also that A. carolinensis perched higher when A. sagrei was present. In staged interspecific interactions, I discovered that A. sagrei females achieved consistently higher aggressive scores than A. carolinensis females, suggesting that female interspecific behavior is probably more important than male behavior in driving changes in habitat use. Lastly, I studied plasticity in several morphological and whole-organism performance variables by rearing males and females of each species on two different perch diameters. I found that sprinting performance in A. sagrei was significantly different between treatment groups, although the morphological differences between perch treatments were subtler than those reported in previous studies. I also found that A. carolinensis females exhibited significant differences in both sprinting and clinging performance, despite no significant differences in male or female morphology between perch size treatments, highlighting the potential for both species-specific and sex-specific plasticity

Refresh Student-Library Relationships with Innovative Applications of GooseChase

Effective library orientations place significant strain on library staff. Development, execution, and assessment of learning outcomes require a significant time investment, especially if working within a low-no cost framework. Learn how we leveraged an FTE-based GooseChase scavenger hunt subscription to create an innovative, community-building orientation that successfully met our information literacy outcomes. Compared to previous, home-grown orientations, GooseChase afforded our library with a platform to easily assess student learning and provide students with self-directed way to learn about library collections, services, and spaces. GooseChase allows for flexible, real-time feedback and assessment such as adding bonus points. Students were self-motivated to earn bonus points for creativity and innovation. We selected a range of dispositions from the Searching as Strategic Exploration frame to anchor our orientation. Students were asked to browse the collection and upload a photo of the weirdest book they could find - practicing the process of “browsing and serendipitous methods of information gathering.” Students were asked to document their experiences in GooseChase by “exhibiting mental flexibility and creativity,” resulting humorous photos of students planking on library furniture, creating trashcan pyramids to promote recycling, and taking selfies with books. Throughout the process, students chose to approach library staff to ask questions and “seek guidance” from the library experts. We have seen increased, independent use of the library building and technology. Student workers who participated in the orientation have demonstrated an increased sense of responsibility, building ownership, and willingness to interact with library staff. New and returning students approached us to share about the new things they learned and how much fun they had. While the free version of GooseChase didn\u27t meet our needs, the subscription version far exceeded our expectations

The Opportunity to Dream: How an Early Learning Network Implemented the Liberatory Design Process

This resource is a case study created in partnership with the Friday Institute's PEER team, entitled "The Opportunity to Dream". The study focuses on the impact of the TIP Early Learning Network's third cohort and their use of the Liberatory Design process in promoting equity and opportunity for underrepresented groups. The study highlights the positive outcomes and benefits resulting from the implementation of the Liberatory Design process, specifically in the work of Edgecombe and Wake's prototypes. The case study serves as a valuable reference for those interested in understanding the impact of using the Liberatory Design process as part of the TIP Early Learning Network

A Cultural Context Lens of Hope

This chapter explores hope theory, measurement (i.e., Children’s Hope Scale and Adult Dispositional Hope Scale), and research with regard to diverse racial and ethnic groups. Utilizing a cultural context lens, a case study of a Latina adolescent without documentation is used to illustrate how culture influences goals, obstacles, agency, and pathways. Research about the equivalence of hope across groups, including racial and ethnic groups within the United States as well as in other countries, is reviewed. The chapter concludes with a summary of findings regarding hope measurement and hope theory as they apply to various cultural groups and suggestions for future research in the field

Chinese parents\u27 perspectives on adolescent sexuality education

Structural equation modeling was used to examine a model of factors related to Chinese parents‟ level of involvement in sexuality education for adolescents. Greater parental education was indirectly related to parents‟ engagement in sexuality education through its relationship with more traditional cultural values, greater perceived knowledge of sexuality, and increased quality of the parent-child relationship. The model was found to be largely consistent regardless of the gender of the parent or child and the residence of the family. Results demonstrate that there are multiple pathways to consider within the topic of Chinese parental involvement in sexuality education